Gideon Drake and the Fire Within (Harry Potter Sequel/Spinoff)

Chapter Sixteen: Back on Track

'Dad! What are you saying?' said Holden Ollivander, 'Please forgive my father, Gideon, he doesn't know what he's saying.'

'Do not treat me like some addled old fool, Holden!' Mr Ollivander senior snapped at his son. 'I meant what I said. I'm sorry, Mr Drake, we shan't be selling you a wand.'

'Dad, you can't talk to a customer that way—'

'I made a promise a long time ago...' he said, his voice becoming hoarse. 'I don't expect you to understand, Holden, but my decision is final. Good day, Mr Drake.'

Gideon's heart began to race. He didn't understand what was going on.

'But, Dad, it's the Caladrius wand—'

'I said GOOD DAY!' the older man bellowed.

'Now, just one moment—' Holden protested.

The frail old man began to shake his head and pound the arm of his wheelchair while yelling, 'Out! Out! Out! OUT! OUT! OUT!'

Frightened and confused, Gideon fled the shop, the little bell signalling his exit. He composed himself and peered through the window of the shop. The two men were still arguing.

'Wow, that took a while!' said Caroline from outside a nearby store window, where she had been busying herself while waiting for Gideon. 'Let's see it, then!'

'I didn't get it,' said Gideon. 'Is there anywhere else that sells wands?'

'Wha-what are you talking about?' Caroline said in disbelief. 'Ollivanders make the best wands there are!'

'Well, I'm a Squib, so It doesn't make a difference what wand I use, does it?' he replied disdainfully. 'I might as well take an old twig to Hogwarts. If I go, that is.'

'Gideon?' Caroline said with concern. 'Did something happen?'

'No. I just won't spend twelve Galleons of someone else's money on something I can't even use,' he answered.

'Well, there isn't another wandmakers in Diagon Alley,' Caroline explained, 'but there might be some old wands in the second-hand shop. If you're sure?'

'Fine. Let's take a look,' Gideon said decisively.

Diagon Alley's second-hand shop was full to the brim with junk. There was barely room to move through the piles of old furniture, bird cages, brooms, and such, but with the shop clerk's help, they were lucky enough to find four used wands. They were all pretty worn. One was snapped clean in two. He ruled out another, which was cracked from stem to stern, leaving two to choose from.

There wasn't much difference between them, but one looked as though it had been gnawed on considerably. Gideon chose the wand with a small amount of silver hair protruding from the tip and paid the shopkeeper five Galleons. He dropped the thinly wrapped package in his new cauldron and left the store without meeting his aunt's eyes.

Gideon was frustrated to be leaving Diagon Alley in a bad mood once again. He started up the street to the exit, but his aunt had other ideas.

'We're not leaving just yet,' she said, heading in the opposite direction.

He sulkily followed her, only looking up when he saw his aunt's footsteps disappear into another shop. As he followed her, Gideon wondered how he hadn't noticed it earlier with its garish purple and orange decor and overactive window display. It was Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, the joke shop.

It was hard to maintain a bad mood inside with so many loud, distracting noises; flashing, moving objects; and excited, laughing children and adults. As if his thoughts had been audible, the tall red-haired shopkeeper made a beeline for Gideon.